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Biomedical subjects

R Mansouri

Publications and source records attributed to R Mansouri.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Glucagon does not affect catecholamine release in primary cultures of bovine adrenal chromaffin cells.

OBJECTIVE: Human pheochromocytoma tumor cells express glucagon receptors, and bolus i.v. glucagon injection rapidly increases plasma epinephrine levels, suggesting that glucagon can directly stimulate adrenomedullary secretion. In this study, we tested whether the catecholamine secretory response to glucagon was present in bovine chromaffin cells or exclusive to the tumor cells. DESIGN AND METHODS: Adrenomedullary cells were cultured in 24-well plates (10(6) cells per well). After 48-72 hours, wells were incubated for 1-20 minutes with (1) incubation medium (control), (2) catecholamine secretagogues (nicotine or potassium ion), or (3) glucagon (10(-8) to 10(-5) M). After incubation, catecholamine contents in medium and cells were assayed by high-pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Fractional release rates of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine were calculated and compared to controls. Reverse-transcriptase PCR was performed to compare expression of mRNA of the glucagon receptor in chromaffin cells and pheochromocytoma cells. RESULTS: Nicotine and potassium evoked time-dependent release of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Glucagon did not affect catecholamine secretion at any concentration. Reverse-transcriptase PCR failed to detect mRNA for glucagon receptor in bovine adrenomedullary cells, but did detect it in human pheochromocytoma cells. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to pheochromocytoma tumor cells, bovine adrenomedullary chromaffin cells do not express the glucagon receptor, and therefore do not secrete catecholamines in response to glucagon.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[Pneumocystis carinii pneumopathy in patients with AIDS. The first 3 cases reported in Algeria and review of the literature].

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is a severe and dangerous infection which afflicts patients with immune deficiency, particularly those with AIDS. This pathology isn't well known in Algeria. The aim of the present study is a contribution to make this disease more known in the algerian AIDS patients. It has focused on the research and the identification of P. carinii in the expectorations and in the bronchalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids of 14 patients with respiratory troubles: 13 were AIDS cases and one with an iatrogenic immune deficiency. 3 of these patients were women and the rest were men. Their average age was 35.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1981

Antithymocyte globulin in cadaver kidney transplantation: a randomized trial based on T-cell monitoring.

The influence of horse antihuman thymocyte globulin (ATG) on renal allograft survival was assayed between March 1977 and August 1978. Fifty consecutive patients were randomly assigned to the treatment or the control group. Patients in both groups received azathioprine and prednisolone. ATG was added in the experimental group. The daily dosage was such as to maintain the rosette-forming cell (RFC) level at 10% of baseline values. The number of renal failure episodes (RFE's)was significantly lower in the experimental group during the period (1 month) ATG was given than it was in the control group during that same period of time. Two years after transplantation, kidney survival was 79% in the ATG group and 52% in the control group. The amount of steroids necessary to control RFE's was significantly lower in the ATG group. The dosages of ATG used in the experimental group were relatively small (average daily dose, 3.08 +/- 0.26 mg/kg of body wt), and adverse reactions were mild. Blood tolerance was excellent. T-cell monitoring thus appears to be an effective method in evaluating the daily dosage of ATG.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Are there non-steroid-dependent rejection episodes?

We undertook two randomised studies in an effort to decrease the dosage of steroids in transplanted patients and to replace harmful steroid therapy by nonsteroid anti-inflammatory (NSAI) drugs. In the first study, 50 consecutive transplant recipients were randomly assigned to the treatment or the control group. In both groups, patients received azathioprine and prednisolone. ATG was added to this protocol in the experimental group. The number of renal failure episodes and consequently the amount of steroid necessary to control these episodes were significantly lower in the ATG group than in the other group. Two year post-transplantation kidney survival was 79% in the ATG group and 52% in the control group. In the second study, 15 consecutive transplant recipients were randomly assigned to two control groups and to one experimental group, where steroids were replaced by NSAI drugs. This preliminary, and very limited, pilot trial demonstrates the existence of early acute renal failure episodes, probably of immunological origin, which can improve spontaneously in the absence of steroid therapy.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗